Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Dakota County Library celebrates Dakota County Sesquicentennial - 10/27/1999
EAGAN
axe
1
; 0o
Ooop"
October 27,1999
History takes
center stage
at library
Three authors to share their
views on the importance
of history in their writings
By Joshua Nichols
Sun Newspapers
Minnesota's
past will come
alive Nov. 4 as
Eagan's Wescott
Library cele-
brates the
sesquicentenni-
al of Dakota
County and the
state's history. Greg Page
As part of the
Dakota County Library Sys-
tem's "Live at the Library" se-
ries, Minnesota authors John
Koblas and Tom Melchior and
Dakota County Historical Soci-
ety Director Greg Page will dis-
cuss the importance of history.
"I'm going to give a little chat
on the value of publishing local
history," Page said. "It's not only
important to preserve that histo-
ry but also to publish it and make
it available to more people."
All three speakers have plen-
ty of experience in publishing
and researching the state's his-
tory.
Melchior, a retired English
teacher from the Burnsville-
Eagan-Savage School District
who now lives in Shakopee, pub-
lished his first book last year.
Entitled "They Called Me
Teacher," his book shares the
stories of more than 280 country
school teachers and students.
He began his book shortly after
retiring in 1993, driving around
the state in search of stories that
have largely gone untold about
one-room schoolhouses.
For Koblas, research is the
most important thing in report-
ing history correctly. His latest
book, "The Jesse James North-
field Raid: Confessions of the
Ninth Man," is the product of 16
years of research on the infa-
mous 1876 robbery attempt.
LIBRARY: To Page 22A
22A Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun-Current/Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999
Library: Peers into state's past for county's sesquicentennial
From Page 1A What's next recorded other peoples' stories," Page
said. "There are so few easily to consume
"Fiction often becomes fact when you publications available that offer a public
are talking about history," Koblas said. What: Live at the Library featur- and private primary resource of local his-
"It's so important to research and sort out ing three area authors. tort'"
the fiction." When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4. In addition to the stories reprinted in
Koblas, a resident of Burnsville, has Where: Eagan's Wescott library, the Society's book, obituaries from the
written or edited six books on the lives 1340 Wescott Road. people mentioned in the stories are in-
of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Information: 651-688-1519. cluded to provide more details on the
Lewis. He also teaches courses on lives led by county residents at the turn
Fitzgerald and Lewis at the Elder of the century.
Learning Center of the University of Koblas, Melchior and Page will dis-
Minnesota. The Historical Society has been pub- cuss not only their books, but also the im-
Page, who was born in Prior Lake lishing since 1961 and its latest venture is portance of history during the event.
and now lives in the Highland Village a book collecting county residents' memo- The free program will begin at 7 p.m.
neighborhood of St. Paul, has worked at ries and stories printed in the Dakota Nov. 4 in the library's lower level meeting
the Historical Society since August County Tribune from 1904 to 1907. room. The library is at 1340 Wescott
1993, and has been director since May "Not only were they recording their Road. For more information, call 651-
1994. memories, but by doing so, they also 688-1519.